Church & monasteryCentral Croatia

Lepavina Monastery: Orthodox heritage near Koprivnica

Lepavina Monastery is a Serbian Orthodox monastery dedicated to the Presentation of the Theotokos, in the village of Sokolovac near Koprivnica in northern Croatia. Its Baroque church dates from the mid-18th century, and for long stretches the monastery was the main centre of Eastern Orthodoxy in the region. It is a quiet, little-visited place with a story tied closely to the Orthodox communities of the old Military Frontier.

Lepavina was once so important that a whole diocese was named after it, the Eparchy of Lepavina and Severin, yet its bishop never settled here: the monastery was judged too remote.

WhereVillage of Sokolovac, near Koprivnica, northern Croatia

TypeSerbian Orthodox monastery with a Baroque church

Best forBaroque church architecture, religious history and quiet rural stops

Getting thereBy road, near the town of Koprivnica in northern Croatia

The history of Lepavina Monastery

According to an old local chronicle, Lepavina was founded around 1550, soon after the first Serbian settlements appeared in this region. A monk from the Hilandar Monastery on Mount Athos, Jefrem Vukodabović, born in Herzegovina, together with two monks from Bosnia, built a wooden church here. Several other monks soon joined them, and the community gained the status of a monastery. In 1557 the church and monastic buildings were burnt down by Ottoman forces and local Islamised inhabitants. In 1598 Hieromonk Gregory, also from Hilandar, arrived with two monks from Mileševa Monastery and re-established the community.

A new chapter began in 1630, when the Serb population of the area received important privileges that made building work on a larger scale possible. Archimandrite Visarion came to Lepavina in 1635, and under him a larger monastery complex grew up between 1636 and 1642. The history of the monastery is bound up with the history of the Serbs in the Varaždin Generalat, who identified with Orthodoxy and largely resisted union with the Roman Catholic Church. At the end of 1692 and the beginning of 1693, Lepavina hosted the Serbian Patriarch of Peć, Arsenije III Čarnojević, whose visit raised its standing. After the monastery at Marča passed to the Greek Catholics, Lepavina became the major centre of Eastern Orthodoxy in the region.

In 1734 the Serb population of the Generalat obtained permission to have its own Orthodox bishop, and Lepavina was assigned as his residence. Because of its peripheral position, however, the final seat became Severin, and the diocese was called the Eparchy of Lepavina and Severin. The first bishop, Simeon Filipović, was buried at Lepavina. The church that stands today was built in the mid-18th century under Nikola Popović, who took monastic vows as Nikifor and became archimandrite. The Baroque church was consecrated in 1753. Life under Empress Maria Theresa was not easy for the Orthodox, and the monastery was for a time due to become Greek Catholic.

The Second World War was a particularly difficult period. Soon after the occupation the brethren were arrested and taken to a concentration camp; Hieromonk Joakim Babić was killed and the others were deported to Serbia. In 1943 the monastery was bombed, and the monastic buildings were almost completely destroyed, with the church and dormitory heavily damaged. After the war the only resident was Father Simeon Sakulj, who partly renovated the complex. Under Metropolitan Jovan Pavlović, head of the diocese from 1977, the monastery regained its importance, and the link with Hilandar was revived in 1984. The renovation was supported by the World Council of Churches and by Evangelical church groups from Württemberg and Stuttgart.

Curiosities about Lepavina Monastery

A diocese carries its name: the Eparchy of Lepavina and Severin, although its bishops finally resided in Severin because Lepavina lay on the periphery.
The first bishop of Lepavina and Severin, Simeon Filipović, was buried at the monastery.
The oldest community is said to have been founded around 1550 by a monk from Hilandar on Mount Athos, who built a wooden church with two monks from Bosnia.
In 1692 and 1693 the monastery hosted the Serbian Patriarch of Peć, Arsenije III Čarnojević, who preached to the local Serbs.
The photo of the site shows a Greek inscription dated 1734, the year the Orthodox bishop was assigned Lepavina as his residence.
The renovation after the war was supported by the World Council of Churches and by Evangelical Christians from Württemberg and Stuttgart.

Tours near Lepavina Monastery

Experiences in the area that you can book online with Viator:

Private experience of Rastoke and Plitvice Lakes from Zagreb

★ 5 (143 reviews) · 10 h

See details ›

2 hour Private Walking Tour of Zagreb

★ 5 (64 reviews) · 2 h

See details ›

Baroque Varaždin and Trakošćan Castle Private Tour from Zagreb

★ 5 (58 reviews) · 9 h

See details ›

Authentic Croatian Food & Heritage Walk in a Small Group

★ 5 (46 reviews) · 3 h

See details ›

Visiting Lepavina Monastery

The main sight is the Baroque monastery church, consecrated in 1753, which is the oldest part of the complex that still stands.
Look for the Greek inscription of 1734, which appears in the photo of the monastery.
The monastery is in the village of Sokolovac, near Koprivnica; the surroundings are rural and quiet.
This is an active Orthodox religious site, so modest dress and a quiet manner are appropriate. Check the current opening hours before you go.
Čakovec Castle, about 37 km away, is the nearest other site of this guide.

Opening hours, access and conditions can change. Check before you go.

Map: where Lepavina Monastery is

Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors

Questions

Where is Lepavina Monastery?

Lepavina Monastery stands in the village of Sokolovac, near the town of Koprivnica in northern Croatia.

Which church is Lepavina Monastery dedicated to?

It is a Serbian Orthodox monastery dedicated to the Presentation of the Theotokos.

When was the church of Lepavina Monastery built?

The church that still stands was built in the mid-18th century, and the completed Baroque church was consecrated in 1753.

Why is the Eparchy of Lepavina and Severin named after Lepavina?

In 1734 Lepavina was assigned as the residence of the new Orthodox bishop. Because of its peripheral position, the final seat became Severin, but the diocese kept both names.

How old is Lepavina Monastery?

According to an old local chronicle, it was founded around 1550, and a larger monastery complex developed between 1636 and 1642.

Was Lepavina Monastery damaged in the Second World War?

Yes. The brethren were arrested and the monastery was bombed in 1943, which almost completely destroyed the monastic buildings. It was later renovated.